Motorized conveyor pulley

Abstract

A motorized conveyor pulley in which a rim and two end discs form a closed compartment and an electric motor and speed reducer are disposed in axial alignment with one another in the compartment. The motor is supported by a nonrotatable shaft extending through one end disc, and the speed reducer is connected to the motor by an input shaft and has an output shaft which is rigidly connected to the other end disc for rotating the pulley in response to the operation of the motor. A bearing is provided on said first shaft for permitting free rotation of the pulley with respect to the motor and the shaft, which are preferably prevented from rotating by a torque arm connected to the shaft. The air in the compartment is recirculated through the motor and along the inside surface of the pulley rim to cool the motor. The enclosed compartment is essentially sealed to minimize the entrance of dirt, excess moisture and other foreign materials thereinto, thus prolonging the life of the motor and speed reducer and minimizing the service requirements on the pulley assembly.

I claim: 
     
       1. A motorized conveyor pulley comprising a rim and two end discs defining a closed compartment, said end discs being secured to said rim and having axially aligned openings therethrough, an electric motor and a speed reducer disposed in said compartment, an adapter connecting said motor and reducer and having air flow openings near the periphery thereof, said motor having an end wall disposed at the end opposite said adapter and having air flow openings therein, a nonrotatable shaft connected to said motor housing and extending outwardly through the opening in one of said end discs in axial alignment with said rim, a means connected to said shaft for preventing rotation thereof, a bearing disposed on said shaft and connected to said one end disc, means for continuously recirculating cooling air through said air flow openings between said motor and said compartment, said speed reducer having an input shaft means connected to said motor in said compartment and an output shaft means disposed in axial alignment with said first mentioned shaft and said rim and extending outwardly through the opening in the other of said end discs, and means rigidly connecting said output shaft means to said other end disc. 
     
     
       2. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 1 in which said adapter rigidly connects said electric motor and said speed reducer in end-to-end relation. 
     
     
       3. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 1 in which said nonrotatable shaft contains a center bore and electrical lines to said motor extend therethrough. 
     
     
       4. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 2 in which said nonrotatable shaft contains a center bore and the electrical lines to said motor extend therethrough. 
     
     
       5. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 1 in which the means connected to said shaft for preventing rotation thereof consists of a torque arm. 
     
     
       6. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 1 in which said first shaft and said output shaft means are connected to the respective end discs in sealing relationship for minimizing the inflow of atmospheric air into said compartment. 
     
     
       7. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 4 in which said first shaft and said output shaft means are connected to the respective end discs in sealing relationship for minimizing the inflow of atmospheric air into said compartment. 
     
     
       8. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 1 in which a support means is provided for the outer end of said nonrotating shaft and a bearing is provided for said rotating shaft externally of said pulley rim. 
     
     
       9. A motorized conveyor pulley as defined in claim 7 in which the end disc through which said output shaft means extends includes a hub and a bushing which secures said output shaft to said end disc and pulley rim for rotation in unison with one another.